After a relatively strong finish to last season, Chelsea surprisingly let go of their head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who has since been replaced by Leicester City’s EFL Championship and promotion winning manager Enzo Maresca.
Maresca will lead Chelsea into the new season looking to re-establish the Blues as one of the top four Premier League sides after they only managed a sixth place finish last term and possibly win the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Soccernet.football takes a look at how Maresca’s Chelsea could line up in the coming season.
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Robert Sanchez (GK)
After a decent debut season at Stamford Bridge, the former Brighton goalie will be looking to solidify his position as Chelsea’s first-choice between the sticks. His exceptional shot-stopping, distribution, and leadership qualities make him a reliable last line of defense so we expect to see him keep his starting shirt.
Reece James (RB)
The Blues skipper saw his 2023/2024 season hampered by injuries as he was sidelined for most of the campaign. James is a dynamic and attack-minded right-back, offering defensive solidity and attacking width with his pace, power, and delivery from wide areas. He would certainly be playing a huge role for Chelsea if he can manage to stay fit this coming season.
Wesley Fofana (CB)
The 24-year-old, having seen his Chelsea career disrupted by injuries, could well become the main man at the back for the Blues in this coming season especially with the departure of Thiago Silva. Fofana’s athleticism, reading of the game, and ball-playing ability make him an ideal profile for Maresca’s preferred style of play.
Levi Colwill (CB)
The Chelsea academy graduate could establish himself at the heart of the Blues’ defense this coming season. His aerial ability, passing range, and leadership qualities complement Fofana perfectly, forming an exciting partnership which could potentially become one of the best in the Premier League.
Marc Cucurella (LB)
Cucurella’s time at Chelsea hasn’t gone as expected so far but the Spanish full-back certainly deserves a chance to prove himself at Stamford Bridge following his performances for Euro 2024 winners Spain a couple of weeks back. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea’s new boss will be able to get the best out of the Spaniard.
Enzo Fernandez (CM)
The Argentine’s undeniable talent was evident last season despite Chelsea’s many struggles in the Premier League as his vision, passing accuracy, and tenacity dictated the tempo of games. It will be interesting to see how the Copa 2024 winner will be utilized under Maresca.
Moises Caicedo (CM)
The former Brighton and Hove Albion star will be looking to get back to his best form in the new season after a somewhat mixed showing in his debut season at Stamford Bridge. Caicedo’s box-to-box energy and skill-set complement Enzo perfectly. His tackling, interceptions, and driving runs will be crucial in controlling midfield battles.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (AM)
The 25-year-old who starred for Leicester as they won promotion back to the Premier League, has now reunited with Maresca in West London. Dewsbury-Hall’s creativity, vision, and goal-scoring ability make him an exciting addition to Chelsea’s midfield. His versatility allows him to play across various positions and his familiarity with the tactical demands of the Blues’ new manager makes him a crucial part of this XI.
Cole Palmer (RW)
After a sensational debut season at Stamford Bridge where he scored over 20 Premier League goals, the 22-year-old is easily one of Chelsea’s most reliable players heading into the new season. Palmer’s pace, trickery, and directness will cause problems for opposition defenders and his ability to score goals as well as create chances makes his inclusion in this XI a no-brainer.
Nicolas Jackson (LW)
Jackson was Chelsea’s starting striker last season and while he turned out a decent number of goals, his profligacy in the final third still left so much to be desired. We may get to see the 25-year-old deployed in a wider position where his speed and skill on the ball still pose a significant threat and his interplay with Nkunku and Dewsbury-Hall could prove crucial in breaking down defenses.
Christopher Nkunku (CF)
The 26-year-old was another one of Chelsea’s injury casualties last season but he managed to make a late season comeback and showed glimpses of his immense talent as the Blues finished the season strongly. Nkunku’s physicality, hold-up play, and finishing ability make him an ideal target man. His presence will allow Chelsea’s attacking midfielders and wingers to flourish.
